DOT Compliance, Driver Safety
“Don’t get caught with an expired registration because of an unresolved owner citation.”
Registration renewals cannot be completed when the owner or lessee has unpaid Owner Responsibility Citations (ORC) on record.
Here are the steps to resolve your citation before your registration expires:
- Obtain court and citation information
- Reach out to the courthouse to pay citation
- Receive a DL-106R in the mail
- DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE
- Mail the Closed envelope to VLC to process with your renewal
- Receive your renewed registration
Proof of clearance and proper filing procedures must be followed. If you are unsure, contact us… our team can help.
DQMConnect™, Driver Safety
Due to the genuine danger that can come from large trucks, it’s absolutely vital to know that your drivers are capable of doing the job – and that’s not just good advice; it’s the law. Under Federal Rule 391, anyone employing professional drivers operating vehicles over 10,000 pounds must maintain a Driver Qualification (DQ) File for every driver.
The DQ file contains numerous documents and information necessary to prove, on-demand, that your drivers are capable of doing their jobs safely. That makes this a critical piece of documentation to have and maintain.
Documentation Needed for Driver Qualification File Management
There are numerous pieces of information on your drivers that you must be able to produce on-demand as part of their DQ file. These include:
Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs)
You must maintain documentation of vehicle records for every driver, covering every state in which they’ve held a license or permit in the last three years. These records should be updated on an annual basis, to reflect the most current past-three-year period.
Previous Employer Requests and Responses
As with MVRs, you must also maintain personnel investigation requests and responses from the past three years, for every employer the driver has previously worked with during that period. This includes all responses from previous employers, as well as any situations where previous employers failed to respond to requests. If the driver has held no previous DOT-regulation positions, this should be documented as well.
Medical Examination Certificates
You must maintain documentation on the physical fitness of every applicable driver. At a minimum, medical examinations must be conducted at least once every 24 months. In some cases, if the worker has documented health problems, this minimum may be lower. This information must always be kept on file, including the medical examiner’s status.
Pre-Employment Drug & Alcohol Testing
All employers must drug and alcohol test their drivers prior to employment, for anyone holding a Commercial Driver’s License. The documentation of the test – and their passing of it – should be kept in your DQ file.
Driver Qualification File Management Solutions
Driver qualification file management can be a hassle, but VLC makes it easier with DQMConnect™ – our custom solution for managing and automating DQ-related tasks. Click here to learn more, and schedule a 30-day free trial!
Driver Safety, Team Building
This year’s Driver Appreciation week is September 12 – 18. There are approximately 3.5 million men and women that are dedicated to keeping the American economy moving forward. These individuals affect our daily lives in countless ways. From keeping groceries on the shelves to delivering toys for Christmas and vital medical supplies to hospitals, their importance cannot be underestimated. Having quick and easy access to almost everything we want and need is something we often take for granted.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week highlights how critical trucking is to our nation’s economy. Whether it’s business as usual or navigating extraordinary challenges — from natural disasters to a global pandemic — truck drivers are on the front lines, delivering essential freight safely, securely and on time.
Here’s a great fun fact… Most drivers cover 2,500 miles per week. 125,000 per year. That’s a lot of driving. Thank a driver.
VLC can set your drivers up for success with the following tools to ensure safe travels:
-
- Surfsight – protect your drivers. No fear of being accused of false accidents. Help your drivers be the best drivers they can be with safety notifications.
- DQM – help your drivers remain compliant ad ensure smooth travels
- Drivewyze – Bypass. Cut down on frustration at the scales for your drivers
- Gateway Connect – never have a missing registration
Thank You
VLC would like to thank all the men and women drivers around the country for delivering our goods on time and safely. Thanks very much!
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
Driver Safety
As an employer, it is important to be aware and steer clear of disqualified drivers. The disqualification period is determined by a combination the severity of the offense and prior convictions. There are major offenses, serious traffic violations, and railroad-highway grade crossing offenses as well as violating out-of-service orders that can lead to disqualification. Here is a look at what to be aware of and how to avoid drivers who are repeat offenders.
Major Offenses
• Under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance
• Refusing a drug or alcohol test
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Using a vehicle to commit a felony
• Driving with revoked or suspended CLP or CDL
• Driving during disqualification
• Causing a fatality due to negligence
Serious Traffic Violations
• Excessive speeding (15 mph over the limit)
• Reckless driving
• Improper or erratic lane changes
• Tailgating
• Traffic violations resulting in a fatal accident
• Driving without obtaining a CLP or CDL
• Driving without the proper CLP or CDL for the vehicle operated
• Driving without a CLP or CDL in the driver’s possession
• Texting or using a hand-held mobile phone while driving
Protect Your Business – Know your Drivers
These disqualifications can be costly and disruptive. Having all the information about your drivers in one easy-to-use dashboard can be a huge advantage. Check out our new Driver Qualification Software. One demo will change the way you manage your drivers!
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
Driver Safety
The CVSA’s Operation Airbrake Program holds an annual Brake Safety Week scheduled for August 22-29, 2021. During this campaign, commercial vehicle inspectors will conduct brake inspections across the country to identify brake-related violations which can pose a risk to drivers and public safety.
How To Prepare
This year’s Brake Safety Week will have inspectors checking brake systems and brake components for out-of-service conditions and compiling data on brake hoses and tubing (a focus area for this year’s safety week). Here are our recommendations for preparation:
- Make sure your air brake system and all brake components have been recently checked
- Your mechanic should know the size and type of the air brake chamber and the maximum allowable push rod travel for that chamber. Be sure it is properly adjusted
- Inspect all brake hoses and tubing to be sure they are free of leaks or visible damage
- Components such as cotter and clevis pins, should be checked for wear or damage
- Check the slack adjuster; automatic slack adjusters can become worn and faulty
- Test all air lines; be sure brakes are not spongy, soft, or allow the pedal to be depressed too far
These are some of the obvious components that can be flagged during an inspection. Get your brakes check by a professional and avoid a vehicle out-of-service condition. Proactive brake checks and any necessary repairs are important to the safety of the driver, the public, and your transport business.
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A Virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet & Driver Compliance…Fleet Tracking Software
530-384-3884
Driver Safety
A truck driver’s life sounds like a country song: open roads, working hard, deadlines to meet, lone soul getting it done. The reality is that while trucking is a great career, it often comes with long days away from home.
Even the most seasoned truck driver will feel pangs of homesickness from time to time. How do you cope with missing home when your job is, by definition, away from home?
Homesickness for truck drivers can present itself in many forms, such as being irritable, anxious, tense, or just constantly thinking about home. It has been known that some truck drivers drink alcohol to forget this homesickness and some get caught and prosecuted with a DUI because of it. If you feel you have wrongly been issued with a DUI visit the Campbell Law Firm or someone similar for advice. Whereas these feelings may just be an annoyance to other professionals, they can present a serious risk to a truck driver’s quality of work. Any type of distraction can impact the overall experience very easily and significantly in a job that requires vigilance, long hours, and technical precision. Consequently, attending to your wandering mind is in your best interest as well as those around you. Don’t become a distracted driver!
Trucking should be a career you enjoy, so hopefully our 10 tips will help you deal with homesickness on the road.
10 TIPS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS WHO ARE HOMESICK
1. TAKE YOUR FEELINGS SERIOUSLY
Downplaying your homesickness is just as ineffective as ignoring it all together. Without proper attention, these feelings could linger around for days instead of hours. It may feel silly to acknowledge that you’re homesick when you’re trying to focus on work, but remember that many truckers have to cope with homesickness.
Humans are naturally drawn to routine and breaking from that can be stressful. Truck driving, by nature, is breaking from routine and overcoming that is impressive, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran.
2. SKYPE AND CALL DAILY
Call your family or friends daily and ask them how their day is going. When possible, hit the free Wi-Fi spots on the road, so you’re not only talking but also seeing each other. Try to make these daily calls a family thing, for instance by reading stories to your children over Skype. If you each have the same books, you can even read together. Nothing beats homesickness for truck drivers than a little bit of quality time with your family.
3. SEND PICTURES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
If you or your family can’t schedule a time to call, keep in touch by sending each other pictures throughout the day. It will make you feel like you’re right there even when you’re miles apart.
4. SEND POSTCARDS TO YOUR KIDS FROM DIFFERENT STATES
Children hardly ever get mail with their name on it. Fighting homesickness becomes easier by imagining their faces light up when they get a postcard from their mom or dad from a totally different state! Moreover, this is a great learning tool to teach your children all the states and capitals.
5. CARRY PICTURES OF YOUR FAMILY IN THE TRUCK
Not only can you show off to other truck drivers with photos of your beautiful family, but looking at these pictures from time to time while driving will also put you in a better mood. It’s a good reminder of who you’re doing this work for and that every mile driven is one closer to them.
6. MAKE YOUR CAB FEEL LIKE HOME
Because you’re spending a lot of time in the cab of your truck, try to make it as cozy as possible. A nice mattress and bedding already goes a long way. Fight homesickness by bringing your favorite pillow or blanket that smells like home or your spouse. Additionally, these items will give you a good night’s sleep, which will make you feel a lot better the next day.
You can also make your cab more fun by hanging up some curtains and placing a few posters of your favorite movies or sports team. You can also bring a coffee pot or crockpot to brew coffee or cook meals.
7. BE KIND TO YOUR BODY
Feeling great physically can help fend off even the worst pangs of homesickness, whereas feeling sluggish or sick can magnify them exponentially. Drink water, eat balanced meals, snack when you’re feeling lightheaded, and sleep as much as possible. Don’t skip meals, but try to avoid the cheeseburger and fries at fast food restaurants.
Furthermore, physical activity releases endorphins, which helps improve your mood and release negative emotions. It may be challenging to find time to work out on the road, so stop at rest areas when possible and stretch your legs by walking for 15 minutes or so. Stay healthy for your wellbeing and to help overcome your homesickness!
8. GET A HOBBY
Take your mind off missing home by listening to a fun podcast or watching the newest movies and shows on Netflix. You can even channel the secret bookworm hiding inside of you by picking up a book.
9. BRING SOMEONE ALONG
Homesickness for truck drivers is made worse by the long hours spent alone. Thankfully, some trucking companies allow for drivers to bring their significant others, close friend or even pet. A little one on one quality time with a person you care about works wonders for your relationship and homesickness.
10. TALK TO OTHER TRUCK DRIVERS AT STOPS
You’re all in the same boat, so why not talk to the other truckers at the stops or even reach out over the CB for a quick chat with fellow drivers. A work family can be almost as great as your family waiting at home.
The independence and open road are major rewards that come with the trucking profession. There is good reason for why truckers are so proud of what they do. It may be impossible to never feel homesick, but hopefully these tips can make it a little easier.
Vehicle Licensing Consultants
A virtual Projects, LLC Company
Fleet and Driver Compliance | Fleet Tracking Software
